Lyon helps Penncrest’s defense get job done

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NETHER PROVIDENCE — Sam Lyon knew what she was getting into Thursday.

The Penncrest defender knew Strath Haven’s offense ran through the attacking axis of Gillian Brennan and Olivia Memeger. If the sophomore could mark one of them — by the matchup, it would be Memeger — out of the game, Strath Haven would have to recalibrate, giving Penncrest an opening.

“I’m young, so it’s a big commitment, which I’m proud of,” Lyon said. “But my teammates backed me up, definitely.”

By the time a frantic finish resolved itself, Lyon had plenty to be proud of.

Penncrest goalie Kaylee Woodhull, center, and defender Sam Lyon, right, deny a last-second shot by Strath Haven’s Olivia Memeger to preserve the Lions’ 11-10 victory over the Panthers Thursday night. (Pete Bannan/Digital First Media)

The Lions limited Memeger to two goals and sniffed out her late shot attempt on a restart with 8.5 seconds left, the shot caroming wide as time expired on an 11-10 Penncrest victory.

Memeger, who entered with 24 goals and 19 assists in seven high-powered games, was shut out in the first half. The effect on Strath Haven’s offense was pronounced: Just one goal in the first 18 minutes, and eight first-half draw controls that led to a measly nine shots, turnovers arising from forced passes.

“I think it’s just all about momentum,” said Gillian Brennan, who scored three times to go with an assist. “We were down but once we kind of started to get in our groove, we were able to catch right up.”

Memeger would score twice in the second stanza, including an unassisted marker with 3:52 left that got Strath Haven within two. It set up a wild finish, with Penncrest holding the ball for most of the final four minutes after a caused turnover following Devon Maillet’s draw control.

Strath Haven got the ball back, time for Brennan to fire a shot that Penncrest goalie Kaylee Woodhull fought off, but Brennan threaded a pass to Maillet with 27 seconds left to narrow the gap to 11-10.

Maillet won the ensuing draw, and Haven got two looks. Danielle McNeely fired wide before Memeger’s final restart. Both of her goals came by rolling to the cage from behind the net, drawing the goaltender out to create an angle.

But Lyon and her defense read it this time, and Memeger’s shot flew through the crease and out.

“We kind of let her do it twice, but we figured it out, talked to the coaches and brought it all together,” Lyon said.

It wasn’t the first time that Penncrest (4-3, 3-3) saw a lead almost evaporate before buckling down. The Lions jumped out to a 5-1 advantage and held a 6-4 edge at half behind four goals from Mia George. But the Panthers adjusted by locking off George, and the Lions had to rejigger their attack.

“She’s obviously a key player in our team and it’s hard for us to adjust,” Penncrest attacker Abby Pennoni said of George. “But once we get back in our groove and spread out and start talking through it again and set up a play … it just took a minute for us to get back into a groove. They caught back up again and we just needed to calm ourselves back down and get back into how we play.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Penncrest vs. Strath Haven

Pennoni was one of the key figures, with George in a different role. Memeger scored at 21:21 of the second – after the teams exchanged post shots – to get Haven within 6-5. By the time they next touched the ball, it was 9-5, thanks to the diminutive George twice winning draws on the ground and Pennoni scoring twice, the second off a Kenna Kaut feed. Add in a Sadie King free-position shot, and the Lions scored three times in 58 seconds.

“Mia definitely hustled in there, which is really good,” Lyon said. “She was scrapping for the ball, which was big for our offense because we settled it after.”

Kaut, who paired three goals with two assists, added a superb feed to Megan Gress in transition for what proved to be the game-winner with 8:54 left.

Strath Haven (4-4, 3-3) got close, thanks in large part to Maillet’s four second-half draw controls to augment the eight taken by McNeely on the day. But the hole was too large to escape, and a defense marshalled by the young but vocal Lyon made sure it stayed that way.

Penncrest’s Mia George watches her first goal hit the far net past Strath Haven goalie Katie Rosini in the first half Thursday evening. (Pete Bannan/Digital First Media)

“Just hyping everybody up,” she said. “Everybody needs to work hard, do everything they need to do. Kaylee stepped up, midfield stepped up, everybody stepped up and made it all come together.”

Also in the Central League:

Radnor 15, Springfield 11 >> The Raiders defended a 9-5 edge at halftime to grab the win behind 14 Phoebe Proctor saves.

Cate Cox led the offense with three goals and five assists, and Cierra Hopson found the back of the net on four times. Missy Massimino, Julia Rigolizzo and Tori DiCarlo scored twice each for Radnor (6-1, 5-1).

Alyssa Long and Olivia Pace recorded hat tricks for Springfield (6-2, 4-2). Belle Mastropietro added two goals and an assist.

Garnet Valley 19, Lower Merion 5 >> Kaitlyn Henning and Kathryn Toohey each had four goals and one assist as the Jaguars scored 15 times in the first half. Kara Nealon chipped in two goals and four assists, and Madi McKee paired a goal with three helpers for GV (8-1, 5-1).

Marple Newtown 14, Upper Darby 10 >> Kylie Gioia scored six goals, Kaely Cristello rang home four markers and Ella D’Ellasandro dished four assists for the Tigers (2-6, 1-5).

Upper Darby got two goals each from Violet Lange and Gabby Lange.

Harriton 18, Haverford 3 >> Mia Ciancio scored twice and Lauren Johns made 13 saves for Haverford, but Mikayla Braver’s four goals led a potent Rams attack.

Conestoga 15, Ridley 0 >> Rachel Clark scored six times to lead the Pioneers.

In the Catholic League:

Cardinal O’Hara 11, Archbishop Wood 5 >> Rylie McGowan scored four goals, Rachel Familetti tallied a hat trick and Erin Grady handed out three assists to go with a goal as the Lions avenged last year’s loss.

Bonner & Prendergast 29, Hallahan 0 >> Maggie Blemings and Lindsey Fagan scored seven times each, Blemings adding five assists, in a Prendie romp. Rachel Doubet and Daly Ewing provided two goals and four assists apiece.

Archbishop Carroll 20, Archbishop Ryan 2 >> Behind four goals and two assists from Alex Almonte, the Patriots exploded for 19 first-half goals. Madison Henry added a hat trick, Julie Downs and Karli Dougherty scored twice apiece and Amber Germer and Fabiana Narda each paired a goal with three assists.

In the Ches-Mont:

Great Valley 23, Sun Valley 0 >> Meg Grant stopped seven shots, but Sarah Kowalski’s five goals led the Patriots’ rampage.

In nonleague action:

Episcopal Academy 17, England U-19 8 >> Olivia Dirks scored five goals, including the 200th of her career, to go with two assists and 10 draw controls. Devon Whitaker scored four goals, and Caroline Burt dished four assists to go with a pair of goals.

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Matthew De George

Matthew De George
Matthew De George is the Asst. Sports Editor and the lead Union writer for The Daily Times.

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